Voicing Newsletter November 2025
Finding Your Voice Again: The Power of Restoration
Losing your voice—whether after surgery, illness, injury, or neurological change—can feel like losing part of who you are. Your voice carries not just sound, but your identity, emotions, and connection to the world. Fortunately, for many people, the journey to finding it again is absolutely possible with the right care team.
Understanding Why the Voice Is Lost
When vocal folds (also called vocal cords) don’t close properly, the result can be a weak, breathy, or absent voice. This may happen due to:
Vocal fold paralysis or paresis
Trauma, surgery, or intubation injuries
Neurological conditions (stroke, Parkinson’s, etc.)
Overuse or misuse of the voice
A thorough evaluation by an otolaryngologist (ENT) and a speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializing in voice disorders is essential. Together, they can identify whether the folds are not moving, not closing, or if inflammation or scar tissue is preventing vibration.
Modern Treatments for Vocal Fold Closure
Voice restoration often combines medical and therapeutic interventions, such as:
Voice therapy: Teaching efficient breathing, posture, and phonation strategies to help the folds meet and vibrate again.
LSVT LOUD®: A specialized program that targets loudness and clarity, especially for those with Parkinson’s or neurological changes.
Vocal fold augmentation: A medical procedure where a filler (such as collagen or hyaluronic acid) is injected to help the folds close more effectively.
Microsurgery or reinnervation: For certain paralysis cases, surgical techniques can restore function or improve symmetry.
The Role of the Therapist
A skilled voice therapist helps retrain coordination between the lungs, larynx, and resonators—often using gentle hums, straw phonation, semi-occluded vocal tract exercises, and biofeedback. This process doesn’t just rebuild a sound—it rebuilds confidence.
Hope in Every Note
Voice loss can be frightening, but it does not have to be permanent. With persistence, guidance, and the right combination of therapy and medical care, many patients rediscover the strength and beauty of their natural voice—and, in many ways, themselves.